Okay, more like, mid- late January progress report. I've actually been doing a decent job of keeping my blog ((www.centralvermontrailway.blogspot.com) up to date, although I owe a column to Model Railroad Hobbyist by the end of the week, so that's become the priority.

I've been spending the layout time over the last few weeks working out the final elements of the layout design. I've gotten most of that done, and have even mocked up one of the main scenes on the railroad with full-size mockups - just to convince myself it would look decent when it was complete.  A lot of effort, but it got me off dead center on that section of the railroad.

I also rearranged the backdrop behind the Essex Junction "alcove" area, finished the roadbed in Essex Junction, and got some ties glued down for the six or eight turnouts I need to handlay for Essex.

I still need to patch and paint the "rearranged" backdrop - but didn't have any joint compound in the house.

With all this planning and infrastructure rework completed it's time to get the tracklaying gang going again.  I think I should be able to make a fairly good cut at a the remaining track over the next couple of weeks of evenings.

I did find one neat thing wandering around the internet -